Sen. Andrew W. Roraback, R-Goshen, on Thursday speaks to reporters outside the state Democratic party headquarters in Hartford after discovering a Democratic super PAC is spending $200,000 to try to discredit him just days before the Republican primary. Rep. Sean J. Williams, R- Watertown, looks on. Alec Johnson/RA

HARTFORD -- Just days before the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, a Democratic super PAC swooped into Connecticut and dropped $200,000 to slam Sen. Andrew W. Roraback as a foe to taxpayers.

Roraback, R-Goshen, one of four Republicans running in an Aug. 14 primary for the open Congressional seat, on Thursday blasted the notion that Democrats could try to "throw" the Republican primary by blasting inaccurate ads across the airwaves.

"Never before in the history of Connecticut has there been such a cynical ploy to deceive voters," said Roraback at a news conference in front of state Democratic party headquarters in Hartford. "For the first time ever a Democratic super PAC is spending money to try to influence the outcome of the Republican primary."

Patriot Majority USA, a Washington, D.C.-based super PAC that lauds itself as helping to get Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada, reelected in 2010, spent $208,177 on an advertisement that calls Roraback "no friend to taxpayers," according to Federal Election Commission records and the ad.

Roraback is running against fellow Republicans Mark Greenberg of Southbury, Lisa Wilson-Foley of Avon and Justin Bernier of Plainville in a primary Tuesday. He was endorsed by the state Republican party at a convention in May.

"What we are seeing here in the final days of the campaign should curl everyone's hair," he said. "It is unacceptable, it is outrageous and I am calling on voters in Connecticut to stand up against it."

In the ad set to air on television, Patriot Majority USA accuses Roraback of voting to increase taxes, and says he is "no friend" to the taxpayer.

The ad says Roraback voted to increase the diesel sales tax by 44 percent, to increase the sales tax by $1 billion and even voted to create fees on using the Internet.

Roraback said the accusations are outright lies, though he admits he did vote to raise the tax on diesel fuel after 9/11 to equalize the tax with that already on gasoline.

He said then-Gov. John G. Rowland, in concessions with the Democratic-led legislature, made the deal to pass a budget that reduced spending in other areas.

Roraback on Thursday called for Connecticut citizens not to be fooled by the ads, particularly Republican voters who Tuesday will choose the person who will represent the party in the November election.

"It is no secret why this super PAC is spending $200,000 trying to bring me down," Roraback said. "They are trying to make this safe for potential felon Chris Donovan. Instead of spending their money to support Chris Donovan's candidacy they think it is smarter to spend their money misrepresenting my record."

Donovan's campaign, like that of Republican rival Wilson-Foley, is under federal investigation.

Jerry Labriola, chairman of the state Republican Party, on Thursday issued a statement condemning Patriot Majority.

"I find it outrageous that a Democratic 'Super PAC' would run ads attacking our Party endorsed candidate, Senator Andrew Roraback, with exaggerated and unfounded claims in an obvious effort to influence the outcome of our Republican Primary," Labriola said. "After years of failed policies that have resulted in higher debt, out of control spending, and a state unemployment rate still above 8 percent, it is clear that the Democrats are afraid of our candidates and their commonsense solutions. There is no place for Democrat special interest money in our primary and come November, the hardworking families of Connecticut will send a clear message to the Democrats and their cronies that they've had enough of their classless tactics."

Roraback said in his 18 years in Hartford as a representative and senator he has voted to cut gas taxes, cut the income tax, to eliminate the death tax and to cut the sales tax.

"I have even voted against a playground in my own district, in Brookfield ... because I recognized we didn't have the financial ability to pay for it," he said. "So for cynical Democrats to run ads which call into question my Republican principles is an outrageous phenomenon."

Patriot Majority, according to Federal Election Commission filings, is run by Craig Varoga, a political strategist with deep ties to the Washington, D.C., Democratic establishment.

Varoga, according to his personal consulting website Varoga & Associates, lists himself as president of Patriot Majority. It says he "ran the successful independent-expenditure campaign by Patriot Majority to re-elect Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid."

Varoga's biography also says he worked on campaigns of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Wesley Clark and John Kerry.

A phone number on Patriot Majority's website rang to a busy signal repeatedly Thursday.

"I am going to win this race, and I can win this race," Roraback said. "You don't have to take the word of the Republicans who are supporting me. Take the word of the Democrats in Washington who clearly see me as the only threat."

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Impatient wrote on Aug 9, 2012 11:35 PM:

" C'mon Andy! What do you call what Linda McMahon is doing? She's a super-pac all by herself. "

" there has to be some regulion to keep these DC super PAC's out of local races. Why does a big money liberal Washington super PAC care about our local 5th district republican primary anyway? Oh, because they are scared and know that Roraback can beat there wet noodle candidate.....go get 'em Andy! "

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